Some new digis!

Hi All

Hope you have all had a good week. Mine has been manic…really busy at work but not long before half-term now ;) Went up town today and spent far too much…went for a pair of boots and some make up…came back with an owl top, owl jumper and owl hair clips…think I have a problem! Lol! (No boots though!)

Anyway, back to crafting! I have made a couple of cards today with my new digis from Tiddly Inks…if you haven’t yet discovered these cuties then please go and take a look! Here is my first card today which is the gorgeous little Wryn! She was lovely to colour in…I have used my speccies too…loving my new pastels set. I’d like to enter this into the Totally Papercrafts challenge this week which is ‘Pearls and Lace’, the Papertake challenge which is ‘Happy Highlights’ which is to highlight a part of your project-I have used glossy accents to highlight the cute little bird that Wryn is holding and the Cute Card Thursday challenge which is ‘You’re a Gem!’ so to include gems which I have done in the centre of the flowers.

Sorry….bit of a picture overload there but I had a go at decorating the inside too…am trying to keep to my crafty resolution!

My next card is actually the hubster’s Valentines Day card! He won’t look on here so it should be safe to post. It is a really plain card as he doesn’t appreciate the ‘clutter’ that we call embellishments! Lol! I have used another fab image from Tiddlywinks. I have also used my speccies once again and am quite pleased with my hair and clothing blending…I’m getting there! I’d like to enter this into the Winter Wonderland challenge this week which is Swirls and Pearls (swirls on the background paper and pearls on the sentiment), the Cupcake Craft Challenge this week which is ‘All You Need is Love’ and it was to make a loved up card and finally the Allsorts challenge this week which is to use One or More Hearts (I have heart gems, shaped in a heart and then a heart rub on…hope that counts!)

I think that may be it from me this week…I have got quite a bit of work to do tomorrow and a busy week ahead. Waiting to hear about a job so may have an interview to prep for if I am lucky! If not, I will be playing with my new Cricut…hopefully being delivered on Monday! Woop!

Have a fab weekend everyone and thanks for looking :)

Hugs

Arline

xx

All About Me - December Challenge

Hi All

Just a quick post from me today! Thought I would share with you my next page for my scrapbook as part of the ‘All About Me’ group. The challenge this month was to use a punch on your project. I have used my new border punch…which I am a little bit in love with…to punch a little bit of glitzy vellum down the side. These are a few piccies from my hen party back in 2010! It was a fab night, all pink and girly! Hope you like it. The main piccie is of me…I kept being sent out to sit on the stairs! The other two pics are of me and my bridesmaids and me and my bessie mates from school. I have another one that I am working on that has got some more of the ‘hens’ on! Lol! Will keep that for a later post ;)

Thanks for looking!

Hugs

Arline

xx

Strawberry Kisses time!

Hi All

Work has been mad since we’ve been back, parents evening and reports due for last week! Finally been able to breathe this weekend and have enjoyed a good old crafternoon!

I decided to use my Christmas money to buy the new Strawberry Kisses collection from Crafters Companion and have had so much fun with it this afternoon…..my crafting mojo wasn’t there so I am not too happy with my cards but I loved playing with the cute little characters!

My first card is for the Crafters Companion challenge this month which is ‘Love is in the Air’. Love this little image, tis sooo cute! My colouring of the moon didn’t go well so please excuse it!

My next card is for the Totally Papercrafts Challenge this week, ‘Spots and Stripes’ (My backing papers have them both on!) and for the Cupcake challenge which is ‘Something New’ which could be interpreted as your new stash…this is definitely new!

All pink and girly so far….and yet another one coming up!! My next card, which I think is my fave so far, is for the I Love Promarkers challenge which is, cute and cuddly, and I have used Denim blue, Ice grey 1, Blossom and Buttercup when I coloured in this little cutie. I’d also like to enter it into Sketch Saturday this week….I have moved the sketch around a little but all of the elements are there :) I would also like to enter this one into the Winter Wonderland challenge this week which is ‘Birthday Wishes’.

  

One last Strawberry Kisses card for now, although I really don’t think I can stop playing with them!! This one I have made for my Uncle who is 50 in February. I made an easel card and thought the sentiment went really well with the image….hoping my Uncle won’t end up sleeping in a shoe on his birthday night though!! Lol!

Phew….that is a lot of cuteness…how about some attitude now?! I have recently bought some Saturated Canary images and have loved colouring them in today….definitely some more cards coming during the week or next weekend! Here is my first attempt which I have kept really plain as I would like to enter it in the challenge over at the Saturated Canary Challenge Blog and the challenge is ‘Clean and Simple’…hoping this will qualify!

This fab image is called Kitty and I love her! My little sister has a hoody similar to this one…tis white with cat ears and has paws that she can wear too! Definitely think this one is a good teenagers card or students…might keep it for my sis for later in the year!

Sorry for the mammoth post!! Just before I finish I thought I’d just update you on the resolutions!! Diet is going pretty well….pleased as I am being really good….getting back on my Wii Fit this week to get my exercise regime started! Saving money is going well…also trying to sell more than buy it…going ok..! Work/life balance….not bad…had almost a completely work free weekend which was nice…still one to work on though. Haven’t done anything in the house this week but think that will be more of a holiday progression…should have an update in February half-term! Moisturising going well and have decorated three insides of the cards made today! Other crafty resolutions are a work in progress! So a promising start I think!

Thanks for looking and I really appreciate all of your comments! Am feeling some candy coming on if I can get my followers over 200…!! ;)

Hugs

Arline

xx  

New Year…New Me!

Hi All

That sounds all very exciting as a title…in reality it means I am posting my new ‘New Year’s Resolutions!’ I always enjoy making resolutions at the beginning of the year…I know some people loathe it…but I enjoy having something to work towards! Lol! I didn’t do too badly last year, I managed to read a lot more, very nearly gave myself at least one day off at the weekend from work, I definitely blogged more…not quite once a day but much more than the year before! I didn’t do so well at losing weight or limiting the amount of times I stress out due to me being a control freak though! However, I will persevere once again this year!

My New Year Resolutions in 2012 are:

1. As always, lose weight and get fit! Did well when I got married, didn’t really have any ‘focus’ last year but we are going on holiday to Canada later in the year and would like to be able to look at my photos without thinking how fat I look! So this is my focus…will keep you updated! There are far too many nice things in the house at the moment though so will start once the Christmassy food has all gone…no point starting just yet! Lol! Think I will do a weekly weigh in on here to try and keep me motivated…might need you all to urge me on with this, even if I have been naughty! Would like to lose a stone to begin with…then see how I feel…don’t want to give myself an unrealistic goal to begin with…hoping a stone is manageable over time…
2. Save money-we need to save for our trip to Canada once again, but I’d also like to save for a ‘rainy day’ and just stop wittering money away…need to stop my trips to town the first Saturday after payday! Have also started selling some bits and bobs, crafty items and some old wedding bits and bobs so hoping this will help with this!
3. Still trying to get the work/life balance right…really difficult as a teacher. So going to try and make at least one night a week where me and the hubby can sit, without laptops, phones or work, and watch a DVD, go out, play Monopoly(!) etc. just spend a bit of time together…so often we are in the same room but not actually speaking to each other!! Lol!
4. Sort out the house-need to finish decorating the house. Only one big room to go, our spare room, that is going to cost quite a bit but the other rooms just need a lick of paint and freshening up. Hoping we can do this throughout the year…may even post some piccies if the results are good!
5. This is going to sound like an odd one…but I want to moisturise more and take care of my skin more! I swear I am starting to get wrinkles!! I do have eczema so should look after it better than I do!

Quite a bit there to focus me! I also saw a lot of my crafty friends are making crafty resolutions! So here are mine:

1. To use at least one stamp a month that has been in my cupboards neglected for a good while! (Especially after my recent sort out…found some gems!)
2. Continue to de-clutter and sell on any products of any use to other crafters.
3. Scrapbook more-I am part of a group so hoping this will keep me focused…but would really like to get my wedding scrapbook done by the end of the year…
4. Try to decorate the insides of my cards more…I see so many people doing this and it makes their cards look so much more professional and beautiful…will try my best :)
5. Keep persevering with my sugar crafting!
6. Finally, to blog at least once a week…more in the holidays though ;)

So lots and lots to do in 2012! Hoping it is going to be a good year! I was really good tonight, didn’t bring any work home with me…..was going to craft though, but being back to work had caused me to lose my mojo! Hopefully I will be back to normal by the weekend! So instead, you got my post about New Years Resolutions! Lol! Sorry to disappoint! Thank you all for continuing to come and visit me, no matter what my ramblings may be! I really do appreciate your comments and they cheer me up no end when I have had a tough day. Thanks again and sending you lots of hugs!

Arline

xx

Happy New Year and a new challenge at Christmas Crafting!

 

Hi All

Firstly, I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year! Hope that 2012 is a good one for you and your families. We had a very quiet one last night, in bed just after midnight! Now looking forward to the roast that is in the oven :)

Onto our first challenge of 2012 over at Christmas Crafting! It is a Christmas crafting blog, so we are continuing to get ready for next years festive season! Our challenge this month is to create an easel card. I have to admit that I am a little addicted to these cards…so couldn’t wait to get started! Our sponsor is Whimsy stamps and they have given us 5 digi stamps to give away so I hope you will join in with us this month!

Here is my DT card. I have used a gorgeous LOTV image that was already coloured in and have used my new ‘Keep calm and…’ stamps that my friend bought me for Christmas….have a feeling a batch of these cards may be coming up!! It is quite simple but I was pleased with the result.

 

I also found out this morning that I have made the top three at Winter Wonderland this week! So excited about this…I love joining in with the challenges so it has made my day, thanks ladies :)

Have a wonderful day, whatever you are up to, and here’s to 2012!

Hugs

Arline

xx